Indycar Drivers For PRI International

IndyCar drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay and Tomas Scheckter will be part of the MKP-Birel driver lineup for the fourth annual PRI/CKI Karting All-Star Classic in Florida this Thursday evening.

press release

The Championship Karting International Series and Motorama Kart Parts (MKP) are pleased to announce the MKP-Birel driver lineup for the fourth annual PRI/CKI Karting All-Star Classic. Competing with the Brownsburg, Indiana based organization will be IndyCar drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay and Tomas Scheckter as well as karting standouts Bill McLaughlin Jr. and Jackson Mears.

Ryan Hunter-Reay is returning to the PRI event for the second time as he looks to again fight for the win in the All-Star division on the evening of December 10th. Debuting in the IndyCar Series in 2007, Hunter-Reay competed with both Vision Racing and AJ Foyt Racing in the 2009 season. Taking home a strong podium result in the opening round in St. Petersburg, Hunter-Reay went on to score two other top ten results along the way to a 15th place finish in the overall point standings.

Hunter-Reay is no stranger to success as he has competed in several forms of open wheel racing including the Barber Dodge Pro Series, Champ Car World Series, A1GP and Toyota Atlantic Championship. In 2007, Hunter-Reay was awarded the IndyCar Rookie of the Year Award and followed the next season with the same award in the famed Indianapolis 500.

Joining Hunter-Reay will be the experienced Tomas Scheckter. After racing karts at the age of 11, Scheckter found the podium early as he claimed the South African Karting Championship in 1995. Progressing through several series of open wheel racing, Tomas competed in Formula Opel, Formula 3, Formula 3000 and eventually the Formula One World Championship with Jaguar in 2001.

In 2002, Scheckter made the move to America where he competed with Eddie Cheever’s squad in the IndyCar Series where he claimed the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award and led 85 laps. Scheckter comes to the PRI show with loads of IndyCar experience with multiple teams. In 2009, the Indiana resident competed in select events with Dale Coyne Racing where he claimed three top ten results.

MKP-Birel will enter two drivers in the Karter division as Bill McGlaughlin Jr. will return for his third PRI event and Jackson Mears will be in attendance for the first time. With a prominent booth display featuring an open wheel car and several Birel racing chassis, look for MKP to be front and center at PRI.

“Having returning drivers and teams to the show is a great honor to PRI and the series,” stated Director of Operations Kevin Williams. “The Thursday evening event has been good in the past but we are doing more to make it even better this season. We have a lot of big plans and high profile drivers in attendance and I can’t wait to get to Orlando.”

Stay tuned to www.championshipkartracing.com for up-to-date information, photos and results.  The PRI show is held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from December 10th – 12th with the PRI/CKI Karting All-Stars Classic taking place on the evening of December 10th. 

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